Edwin a



E. A. woon.

Electro Magnetic Valve Gear. N0. 76,965.

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- Patented April 21, I868.

EDWIN A. WOOD, OF UTlOA. NEW YORK.

Letters Patent- No. 76,965, dated April 21, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELEGTEO-MAGNETIG VALVE-GEAR.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. WOOD, of Utica, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cut-OE Valve-Gear.

The nature ofmy invention consists in the use of elcctro-magncts, onc'or more, for connecting and detaching the valve or valve-stem with and from the eccentric-rod or other part of the engine which operates the valve, whether the same be inlet-valves, independent cut-offs, or governor-valves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a' full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, and of the mode of operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel represents a side view thereof, and D Figure 2 an end view thereof.

p A is the steam-cylinder; B B are the valve-casings; O O, valve-stems; O O, arms attached thereto; D D, armatures connected with said arms; E, sliding frame; E E, cross-bars thereof; F F, electro-magnets; F connecting-bar between; G, galvanic battery; H, a support for 11 H metallic plates, H connection between H and H I, governor; I, knob on end of fine rod or wire I on end of governor-spindle; K eccentric-rod.

The valves may be of any form which will permit the steam to be cut oif at any part of the stroke of the piston. The drawings represent, oscillating-valves.

The valve-stems C have each an arm, O, to the lower end of which is attached a block of iron, D, which form armatures for the elcctro-magnets. D and D are attached to their respective arms,O O, by a pin running through the centre. This allows the armature to remain horizontal while the arm oseillatcs'in moving the valve.

A sliding frame, E, connects the two armatures D and D. This frame is composed of two metallic bars, one above and th'e.other below D and D, and are connectedtogether near the centre by two cross-bars, E E. The electro-magnets F and F are placed'in this frame, each-facing their respective armatures, D and I), while the opposite ends are united by the bar F running through the'cross-bars E E. The inner ends of the wires of the two magnets are united as seen in the drawing. On the inner side of the slide E, and extending from cross-bar to cross-bar E E, is a vertical support of non-conducting material, H. On the face of H are two metallic plates, 11* and H of the same nearly-triangular form, with the narrowest ends downwards, and with a connection near the top, H -Over the sliding frame E, and at the centre of the cylinder, is the governor I, which may be driven in any of the well-known ways. The lower end of the spindle extends .intoa fine rod or wire, I having a knob, I on its lower end. The outer end of the insulated wire of F is connected with theplate H and the outer end ofthc wire on F is connected with one pole of the battery G. The other pole of the battery is connected with the governor, as seen in the drawing. To the underside of the slide E is attached the eccentric-rod K. The slide E, with the magnets F and F, therefore, have the motion of the eccentric-rod. As the slide moves back and forward, the knob I touches the plates H and H and while it so touches either, the galvanic circuit is complete, and is broken when the knob I is in the space H, between the plates.

The operation is as follows: Steam maybe let on in the usual way, when the eccentric will carry the mag nets F andF, alternately, towards and from each armature D and D, when each magnet in turn will attach itselfto its armature, by means of which the valve with which it is connected will be opened and remain so until the knob I has passed over H or H when the galvanic circuit will be broken, which will free the armature from the magnet, and the valve will close by the weight, spring, pressure of the steam, or whatevermeans may be used for that purpose. Thus if the valve 13 is first opened, the eccentric will draw the magnet E against D, which will bring the plate H against the knob I, and thus make the circuit complete, and the mag= not will hold on to the-armature D. On reversing the eccentric, the valve B will be drawn open, and remain open -while I passes over H when the circuit is broken and the valve released, which will instantly close, and

- the eccentric continuing on, will ncxtpress the magnet F against D, when the plate H will touch I, andagain make the circuit complete, and on reversing the eccentric, the valve B will be drawn open, and remain open until ll has passed H, when the circuit will be broken, and the armature will be detached, and the valve B will close, and so on.

As the speed of the engine increases, the governor causes the knob I to descend, and to rise as the motion becomes slower, and as the width of the plates H and H diminish downwards, the higher the knob I is at any time in passing either plate H or H, the longer the valve will be kept' open and allow of a larger amount of steam to follow the piston, and, on the contrary, the lower the knob is, the shorter time the valve will be kept open, and the quicker the steam will be cut oil. As the governor has no labor to perform in opening valves, and no friction to overcome but that arising from its supports and the closing of the galvanic circuit, it may be of the simplest form, and will of conrselbe quite sensitive. Should the belt fly off from the governor, the knob I.

will be drawn above the plates H and H and consequently there can be no galvanic circuit, and the engine must stop.

The advantages of this invention are: It reduces cut-oif-valve gear to the greatest simplicity; it allows the governor to be of the most sensitive character, and makes the cut-oilobey its slightest movements; it thus reduces the cost of the engine, as well as of running it, for there can be no waste of steam, and the governor also becomes a perfect safcty governor, for if its belt flies oil, the engine must stop.

Instead of two valves, as described, only'onc may be used, and instead of using the electro-magnet on the inlet-valve or valves, as described, it may be used on an independent cut-oil or governor-valve. When other forms of valves than-those described in the drawing are used, the changes necessary to adapt the magnet and armature to such change will readily occur to, every competent mechanic. The magnets F and F are, in ell'ect,

a single one, and may be so made.

It is apparent that the electro-magnet may be applied in a great variety of ways to effect this purpose That described is simple, but other forms may be used without affecting the principle.

I do not, therefore, wish to confine myself to the mode of construction or parts herein described; but

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The use of the elcctro-magnet, one or more, for connecting and detaching the cut-oilor governor-valve orvalves of a steam-engine, with and from the power which operates such valve or valves, as described.

2. The use of the governor-andolectro-magnet, one or more, in combination with the inlet cut-off or governor-valve or valves of an engine, for the uses and purposes mentioned.

EDWIN A. WOOD.

Witnesses:

Joan G. Gnocxnn, FRANCIS 'G. Woon. 

